On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:28:05 GMT, Jon Kraus wrote:

I am looking into purchasing my own plane... I think that I am pretty
aware of the costs (as much as a non-owner can be). I would like to
hear from those of you who have had a good experience with a plane
purchase.

Hi Jon,

I can say I had a good experience. Frustrating at times, but a good
experience. I happen to be at my airport looking on the bulletin board,
when someone came to me and asked if I was interested in a Sundowner. He
was based at my airport. I said sure, we went to the plane, and everything
looked great to me. My main concern was the high time engine. He offered
44K for it. I said, let me get back to him as I wanted to do some research
on it. Did an AOPA Vref, found that he was about 2K high. Knowing the
engine was on borrowed time (1940 hours). The recommended TBO is 2000
hours. I said at this time, with the high time engine, that I am not
interested. The seller then came back to me 3 weeks later, dropped the
price to 38K. I then said, good so far, but I want a prepurchase
inspection. He wanted me to use his mechanic that was located in a
different airport. I said, no, I want the local mechanic. The local
mechanic did the prepurchase inspection, found some squawks, but nothing of
any major consequence. Compressions on the engine was 76 to 78 (more on
this later). My mechanic said it looked to be a nice plane for the price I
was looking to pay. Logs were excellent he said. Good deal I said.

I then went back to the AOPA website, requested a title search, the title
was clear. The next day, contacted the prior owner and asked him if my CFI
and I could take it around the patch so he could see any problems. No
problems noted with the plane handling except for the Autopilot. Autopilot
was the only thing not working. We didn't realize it at the time, but the
reason the autopilot wasn't working was that the turn coordinator wasn't
working. After flying it, looking at it, I went ahead with the deal. Very
little paperwork. A Bill of Sales, and a form to the FAA to get the
registration in my name. Registration arrived about 1 month later.

About compressions. A lot of emphasis is put on compressions. This is
fine and dandy on the top of the engine, but it doesn't tell you the bottom
half of the engine. I had an exhaust valve break on me in flight from
metal fatique. So, if you are looking at a high time engine, keep this in
mind.

Since owning the plane, I did have all sorts of quirky things happen (sadly
the plane was only flown 10 hours in the prior two years of me getting
it!). After the exhaust valve went belly up, I got the cylinder replaced,
and 10 hours later, a second cylinder started acting up on runup (couldn't
clear the mag). I taxied back, called the mechanic and asked him to get me
an overhaul. Overhaul was 13K on my 180 HP AK4 Lycoming.

I had a vacuum pump failure, turn coordinator replaced, New battery, Nav1
and Nav2 instruments recalibrated when I started my instrument training,
and my first annual last year was 3K for replacing things that go bump in
the night from the UNDERUSAGE of this airplane (wheel bearings replaced for
starters).

I have now flown 253 hours on this plane in the last 18 months. The last
12 months since overhaul, all I have done is change the oil and any other
maintenance my mechanic has recommended.

I will be the first to tell you, ownership has it's price, but the price
you pay is well worth the walk out on the ramp to fly YOUR OWN airplane
without thinking twice. I figured that 253 hours X 100 rental fees would
be 25,300. So, yes on the surface, I paid more for the plane and overhaul,
but saving money now as I am flying 2 times a week.

Fuel runs about $2.80 or so per gallon at 10 gallons an hour. I get the
15W50 oil, very expensive, but I am a believer you get what you pay for. I
change the oil every 50 hours which is working out to be about every other
month.

Tie down is $40 a month, and insurance is $1,200 a year. I suspect the
insurance will drop big time once I get my instrument ticket (checkride
date is 09/04.

Down the road, I will update the avionics. Original radios that came with
plane, and it does have a Garmin 250XL VFR GPS in it. Interior is
original, and needs to be refreshed down the road as well. Mucho bucks for
both, but both work, so I will not fix what works.

I have the plane now where I know it will be a very reliable source of
transportation (after all that was done above, it better be!). Engine
fires within three turns of the prop, hot or cold.

Hope this helps.

Allen